Vitality Cuisine: Enhance flavor with maple syrup

I love the story behind the discovery of maple syrup, which most historians agree came from the American Indians who taught early settlers the art of tapping trees in the spring.

I recall reading that maple syrup was discovered by accident. The story goes something like this:

The wife of an Indian chief was running behind schedule and was frantically searching for a bucket to gather water. Then she found a pail under a maple tree that was already filled with water — or so she thought.

She poured the liquid over some deer meat then set it to simmer all day. But when the chief returned, he noticed a sweet, enticing aroma.

Tasting the meat, which he found sweet and delicious, he questioned his wife about why it tasted so good.

Remembering the pail, she told him about the bucket of magic water she found under the tree he used for tomahawk practice.

"That wasn't water," the chief likely snapped. "That was the liquid that runs from the tomahawk gouges I made in the tree."

The story, while cheesy, does sound quite plausible, and a blessing because pure maple syrup has many good things to offer us.

It is a natural product that has no additives and is a good source of iron, potassium, magnesium and phosphorous.

Preheat oven to 325 degrees. Place chicken or pieces in a shallow baking dish. In a bowl, combine remaining ingredients and pour evenly over chicken. Bake uncovered, 50-60 minutes. Baste occasionally with juices in pan. Served with rice.